An electronic control arrangement which can be used in particular for driving brushless and slip-ringless electric motors and an installation incorporating such an arrangement. The speed of the motor is controlled as a function of one of more items of information such as temperatures for example. For...http://www.google.ca/patents/US4129808?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US4129808 - Electronic control arrangement which can be used in particular for driving a brushless and slip-ringless motor and an installation incorporating such an arrangement

Electronic control arrangement which can be used in particular for driving a brushless and slip-ringless motor and an installation incorporating such an arrangementUS 4129808 A

Abstract

An electronic control arrangement which can be used in particular for driving brushless and slip-ringless electric motors and an installation incorporating such an arrangement. The speed of the motor is controlled as a function of one of more items of information such as temperatures for example. For this purpose, a DC control voltage proportional to the items of information received is produced. By combining a mixing arrangement, a processing block, a function generator and a power-amplifier stage it becomes possible to obtain from the output of the arrangement, from a source of DC electrical energy, two sinusoidal voltages of the same amplitude and frequency which are 90° out of phase with one another and whose frequency and amplitude are proportional to the DC control voltage.

Images(11)

Claims(11)

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic control arrangement which receives at its input a first DC control voltage V1 which is formulated on the basis of at least one control parameter, and delivering at its output, from a source of DC electrical energy, two sinusoidal voltages of the same frequency and amplitude which are 90° out of phase and whose frequency varies as a function of the said first control voltage and whose amplitude is at all times held proportional to the said frequency, comprising:

a processing block which converts the said first DC control voltage V1 into a second DC control voltage V2. the curve of said second voltage V2 rising linearly as a function of time;

a function generator which receives at its input the said second DC voltage V2 and which produces at its output first and second sinusoidal voltages Va1 and Va2 which are of the same frequency and amplitude but which are 90° out of phase with one another, the frequency and amplitude of the said sinusoidal voltages being proportional to the said DC control voltage V2 ;

first and second power amplifiers which contain first and second pre-amplifiers, respectively, which latter pre-amplifiers receive at their inputs the first and second sinusoidal voltages Va1 and Va2, respectively, and which cooperate with the said source of DC electrical energy so as to produce at their respective outputs the said sinusoidal control voltages; and

an auxiliary arrangement for producing an auxiliary voltage V to supply the said preamplifiers, which arrangement co-operates with the amplifiers by blocking the operation of the said pre-amplifiers when the voltage from the said source of DC electrical energy falls below a certain threshold.

2. An electronic control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first and second power amplifiers are each formed by:

a first transistor T1 whose emitter is connected to the negative pole of the said energy source and whose collector is connected to the cathode of a diode d1,

a diode d3 whose cathode is connected to the anode of diode d1 at a common point P1 and whose anode is connected to the emitter of transistor T1,

a second transistor T2 whose emitter is connected to the said negative pole and whose collector is connected to the cathode of a diode d2,

a diode d4 whose cathode is connected to the anode of diode d2 at the common point P2 and whose anode is connected to the emitter of the said transistor T2,

a current transformer T1 which comprises on the one hand two identical windings 16 and 17 which have respective inputs e16 and e17 and respective outputs s16 and s17, and on the other hand a secondary winding 18 which has an input e18 and an output s18,

an inductance L having two identical windings 19 and 20 which have inputs e19 and e20 respectively and outputs s19 and s20 respectively,

a transformer TR which has on the one hand a primary winding 21 having an input e21 and an output s21 and a centre point m connected to the positive terminal of the said energy source, and on the other hand a secondary winding 22 having an input e22 and at least one output s22,

a first capacitor connected between the said centre point m and the common point P3 of the emitters of transistors T1 and T2,

a second capacitor C2 connected in parallel between e22 and s22, the input e16 of transformer TI being connected to the said common point P1, the output s16 of this same transformer TI being connected to the input e19 of the inductance, whose output s19 is connected to input e21 of transformer TR, the output s21 of the latter being connected to input e20 of the inductance, whose output s20 is in turn connected to input e17 of transformer T1, the output s17 of the latter being connected to the said common point P2, all these components co-operating with one another to emit the said sinusoidal voltages from the output terminals of each of said amplifiers.

3. An electronic control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of the said power amplifiers comprises:

two thyristors TH1 and TH2 which have their cathodes connected together to a common point Pa on the one hand, and on the other hand, via a blocking thyristor TH3, a common point Pb, and inductance L3, and a diode d5, to the positive terminal of the supply source, their anodes being in turn connected, via a diode d3 in the case of TH1 and a diode d4 in the case of TH2, to the negative terminal of the said energy source,

an inductance L2 which is connected between point Pa and the negative pole of the said source, and a capacitor C3 which is connected between point Pb and the same negative pole,

a current transformer TI which has on the one hand two identical windings 16 and 17 which have respective inputs e16 and e17 and respective outputs s16 and s17, and on the other hand a secondary winding 18 having inputs e18 and an output s18,

an inductance L1 having two identical windings 19 and 20 which have inputs e19 and e20 respectively and outputs s19 and s20 respectively,

a transformer TR having on the one hand a primary winding 21 with an input e21 and an output s21 and a centre point m connected to the positive terminal of the said energy source, and on the other hand a secondary winding 22 having an input e22 and a least one output s22,

a first capacitor C1 connected between the centre point m and the negative terminal of the supply source,

a second capacitor C2 connected in parallel between e22 and s22 ; the input e16 of transformer TI being connected to the common point P1, the output s16 of transformer TI being connected to the input e19 of inductance L1, whose output s19 is connected to input e21 of transformer TR, the output S21 of the latter being connected to input e20 of inductance L1 whose output s20 is in turn connected to input e17 of transformer TI, the output s17 of the latter being connected to the common point P2, all these components co-operating with one another to emit the said sinusoidal voltages at the output terminals of each of the said amplifiers.

4. An electronic control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said generator comprises: first and second function generators which each emit symmetrical triangular-wave signals from their respective outputs s310 and s311, symmetrical square-wave signals from their respective outputs s302 and s312, and sinusoidal signals, a zero-crossing detector which converts the symmetrical triangular-wave signals emitted by the said first function generator into a symmetrical square-wave signals V32 which is 90° out of phase with the symmetrical square-wave signal emitted by the said first function generator, and a synchronising arrangement which is formed by:

two resistors R3 and R4 which are connected on the one hand to the input of said zero-crossing detector and on the other hand to the bases of two transistors T3 and T4,

two diodes d5 and d6 which have their anodes connected to the collector of T4 and the emitter of T3 respectively and their commoned cathodes connected to the output s312 of the said second function generator, the collector of transistor T4 being connected on the one hand to the positive pole of the said energy source via a resistor R6 and on the other hand to the output s311 of the said second function generator circuit via a diode d7, the said output s311 being connected to zero potential via a capacitor C4 and to the collector of transistor T3 via a resistor R7, the said synchronising arrangement being responsible for synchronising the said second function generator with the said signal V32.

5. An electronic control arrangement according to claim 1 further comprising a mixing arrangement which receives at its input at least two DC voltages VA and VB which are formulated on the basis of at least two control parameters, and which emits from its output the said first DC control voltage V1.

6. A drive system comprising at least one electronic control arrangement according to claim 1 which co-operates with a motor having neither brushes or sliprings by causing the speed of the latter to vary continously as a function of the said first DC control voltage.

7. A drive system according to claim 6, wherein said motor is a two-phase asynchronous motor.

8. A drive system according to claim 6, wherein said motor is a three-phase asynchronous motor.

9. An installation for ventilating an enclosure, of the type which includes a set of blades set in motion by at least one motor having neither brushes or slip-rings and equipped with a drive system according to claim 8.

10. An installation according to claim 10, wherein the temperature θA prevailing within the said enclosure forms one of the said control parameters and the temperature θB prevailing outside the said enclosure forms a second one of the said parameters, the said first control voltage V1 then being proportional to one of the said temperatures when corrected for the difference which exists between the inside temperature θA and the outside temperature θB.

11. An installation according to claim 10, wherein said enclosure is a coach intended for transporting passengers.

Description

This invention relates to a control arrangement which can be used in particular for driving electric motors having neither brushes or slip-rings and more particularly two-phase or three-phase asynchronous motors. It relates to such an arrangement which receives at its input a control signal in the form of a DC voltage and which delivers from its output, as a function of the latter and from a source of DC energy, two sinusoidal voltages of variable frequency which are out of phase with one another. These sinusoidal voltages, whose frequency can be varied continuously and whose voltage is at all times proportional to frequency, may supply a load such as an asynchronous motor, thus performing the function of a drive system which enables the motor to operate at continuously variable speeds. The invention also relates to an installation for ventilating an enclosure such as a railway passenger coach with regulation as a function of inside and outside temperatures, the said installation including a blower which is operated by at least one brushless and slip-ringless asynchronous electric motor equipped with such an arrangement.

Control systems at present in use to achieve this object will only operate at certain predetermined power factors. As a result, it is necessary to provide capacitor compensation matched to each frequency.

The present invention has as an object to overcome these disadvantages and relates to a control arrangement which forms a generator generating power in the form of two out of phase sinusoidal voltages. The frequency and amplitude of these two voltages are proportional to a low-power control voltage. By virtue of the construction of the various stages forming the arrangement and more particularly that of the power-amplifying stage, the arrangement is able to operate with loads of any power factor and to do so with excellent efficiency.

The invention will be better understood from the following explanation and from the accompanying figures, of which:

FIG. 1, is a schematic view of the layout of the various constituent parts of a control arrangement according to the invention;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are respectively a detail view of an embodiment of preamplifier and an illustration of its manner of operation;

FIG. 9, shows an embodiment of the power amplifier referenced 4 in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the operation of the said preamplifier (power amplifier);

FIG. 12, shows an embodiment of an auxiliary safety circuit;

FIG. 13, is a circuit diagram for an embodiment of thyristorised power amplifier according to the invention;

FIG. 14, is a general diagram of a control arrangement according to the invention which incorporates an additional mixing arrangement which co-operates with the said control arrangement when the application is to the ventilation of a coach;

FIG. 15, when supplemented by FIGS. 16 and 17, shows an embodiment of the mixing arrangement of FIG. 14 and illustrates its operation.

To simplify the description, similar components bear the same reference numerals in all of the figures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall combination of the chief components, each of which has one function to perform, these components co-operating with one another to enable the arrangement according to the invention to emit from its output two out of phase sinusoidal voltages which are capable of regulating the speed of an asynchronous motor whose electric energy source is a DC source.

A first control voltage V1, obtained by taking account of given parameters, is applied to the input e2 of a block 2 for processing the control signal. At its output s2 the latter produces a second DC voltage V2 which in turn is applied to the input e3 of a function generator 3 which, from its two outputs s31 and s32, generates first and second sinusoidal voltages which are out of phase by 90° and whose amplitude and frequency are proportional to the control voltage V2. The first sinusoidal voltage Val is applied to the input e4 of a first power amplifier 4 and the second sinusoidal voltage Va2 to the input e5 of a second power amplifier 5 which is edentical to the first. This produces at outputs s4 and s5 of the amplifiers two sinusoidal voltages which are replicas of the voltages applied to their inputs e4 and e5 but from which power is available, as will be explained in the further course of the description. These two output voltages are thus 90° out of phase and their amplitude and frequency are proportional to the Dc control voltage V2 supplied by the function generator 3. These two output voltages V4 and V5 supply a load which, in one given application, is a two-phase asynchronous motor without brushes or slip-rings.

Having described the general organisation of a control arrangement according to the invention as illustrated in FIG. 1, the various components will now be described one by one from the point of view of structure and operation.

A processing block 2, of which one embodiment and the corresponding manner of operation are described below, is illustrated by FIG. 2. It receives the control signal V1. Such a block consists of a capacitor C10, a load resistor R10 and two diodes d10 and d11 whose commoned anodes are connected to capacitor C10 and whose cathodes receive the control voltage V1 in the case of diode d11 and a voltage V10, supplied by a voltage divider formed by two resistors R11 and R12, in the case of diode d10. The arrangement also includes a threshold system 40 which receives at its input e40 the voltage E from the supply source. This threshold system 40 closes a contact 41 as soon as the voltage from the supply battery drops below a certain predetermined level (72 volts for example in the case of a battery whose rated voltage is 80 volts). This contact 41 brings into operation the voltage divider R11 and R12, which is fed by a voltage V11. The voltage V2 at the terminals of capacitor C10 represents the voltage which is applied to input e3 of the function generator 3 which will be described below. Capacitor C10 charges through resistor R10 to voltage V2. The control voltage V2 rises following a linear ramp law. If the voltage from the supply battery is higher than the triggering threshold, contact 41 is open, voltage V10 is equal to V11 and diode d10 is blocked. When voltage V2 reaches the value V1, diode d10 becomes conductive and limits the charge in capacitor C10 to the value V1. If the voltage from the supply battery is lower than the triggering threshold of the threshold system 40, contact 41 closes and voltage V10 is then set by the divider formed by the two resistors R11 and R12 and becomes less than voltage V1. Diode d10 becomes conductive whilst diode d11 blocks, and voltage V2 assumes the value V10. This limits the frequency and the voltage delivered by the function generator 3.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of this function generator, which referenced 3 in FIG. 1. It is formed by two function-generating integrated circuits 30 and 31. These two circuits are controlled from their respective inputs e30 and e31 by the same DC voltage V2 supplied by the information processing block 2. From its first output s301, its second output s302 and its third output s303, circuit 30 emits respectively an asymmetrical triangular wave signal, an asymmetrical square wave signal, and a sinusoidal signal. All these signals are in phase and their frequency is proportional to the control voltage V2.

The same signals are emitted from respective outputs s311, s312 and s313 of circuit 31, but the frequency of these latter signals, which is always proportional to the control voltage V2, is adjusted to a value slightly less than that applicable to the first circuit 30. A zero-crossing detector 32 receives at its input e32 the symmetrical triangular wave signals from output s301 of circuit 30. At its output s32 it generates a signal V32 which assumes a fixed positive value when the generating sawtooth is positive and a value of zero in the opposite case. This signal is thus a symmetrical square-wave signal which is out of phase by 90° with the generating sawtooth. A synchronising device 333 shown in broken lines in FIG. 3 is responsible for synchronising circuit 31 with signal V32 in the manner described below. Via resistors R3 and R4 respectively, signal V32 controls the bases of transistors T3 and T4 which become conductive when signal V32 is positive. Two diodes d5 and d6 have their anodes respectively connected to the emitter of T3 and the collector of T4 and their commoned cathodes are connected to output s312 of circuit 31. The collector of T4 is connected on the one hand to the positive pole of the supply source via a resistor R6, and on the other hand to output s311 of circuit 31 via a diode d7 whose cathode is connected to output s311 of circuit 31. This output s311 is connected to the negative or zero potential side of the supply source via a capacitor C4 and to the collector of transistor T3 via a resistor R7.

There are two possible states in operation. The first occurs when the voltage V31 at output s312 of circuit 31 is positive and transistor T4 is blocked, that is to say when voltage V32 is zero. Capacitor C4 charges rapidly through R6 and d7.

The second state occurs when the voltage V31 at output s312 of circuit 31 is zero and transistor T3 is conductive, that is to say when voltage V32 is positive. Capacitor C4 discharges rapidly through resistor R7, transistor T3 and diode d5.

FIG. 4 shows the behaviour as a function of time of the voltages V30, V32, V31a and V31 which are respectively received at output s301 of circuit 30, output s32 of the zero crossing detector 32, the first output s311 of circuit 31, and the second output s312 of the same circuit 31. In cases where voltages V32 and V31 are positive, voltage 31a increases linearly. Since the frequency of the signals from circuit 31 is less than that of the signals emitted by circuit 30, at the moment when the voltage V32 drops to zero the charge in capacitor C4 will not have reached its triggering value and V31 will remain positive. Capacitor C4 charges quickly and voltage V31a swiftly rises to its reversal threshold. Voltage 31 drops to zero and voltage V31a decreases linearly. At the moment when voltage V32 becomes positive again, voltage V31a, for the same reason as before, has failed to reach its reversal threshold and voltage V.sub. 31 remains at zero. Capacitor C7 discharges quickly, voltage V31a reaches its reversal threshold, voltage V31 becomes positive, voltage V31a rises linearly, and the cycle begins again.

Since the sinusoidal signals received from output s303 of circuit 30 and output s313 of circuit 31 are in phase with the triangular wave signals from outputs s301 and s311 respectively, they are out of phase with one another by 90° and their frequency which is identical, is proportional to the control voltage V2. They are applied to the respective inputs e322 and e332 of the amplifiers 32 and 33 whose gain is proportional to the control voltage V2. At the outputs of the amplifiers are obtained two sinusoidal voltages Va1 and Va2 which are out of phase by 90° and whose frequency and amplitude are proportional. These voltages are then applied to power amplifiers 4 and 5.

Each amplifier stage 4 and 5 is in two sections; a preamplifier and a power amplifier proper.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of one of the pre-amplifiers, namely that referenced 6. The other is identical to the first and is shown as a rectangle marked 7.

The sinusoidal voltages Va1 and Va2 supplied by the function generator are applied to input e6 of pre-amplifier 6 and input e7 of pre-amplifier 7 respectively. The signals received from the outputs ends are respectively Q1 and Q1, and Q2 and Q2.

Pre-amplifier 6 consists of an adder 8, a zero-crossing detector 9, an amplifier 10 and a threshold detector 11. FIG. 6 shows the behaviour of the various signals as a function of time. The adder 8 receives at a first input e81 the sinusoidal voltage Va1 and at its second input e82 a master saw-tooth voltage V12 supplied by a generator 12. The frequency of this sawtooth voltage is very much higher than the maximum frequency of the sinusoidal voltage Va1 to be amplified. As an esample, which is in no way limiting, the frequency adopted may be of the order of 1 Khz with a signal to be amplified of the order of 40 Hz. In addition, the amplitude of this sawtooth voltage is proportional to the voltage of the DC supply source for the arrangement.

At its output S8 the adder 8 supplies a voltage V8 which is the algebraic sum of the two voltages V12 and Va1 defined above. The zero-crossing detector 9 receives this voltage V8 at its input e9 and converts it into a voltage V9 which is emitted from its output s9. When the output voltage V8 from adder 8 is greater than zero, the output voltage V9 from the zero-crossing detector 9 assumes a fixed positive value. It assumes a fixed negative value in cases where input voltage V8 is less than zero. This voltage V9 is applied to a first input e101 of the amplifier 10, which emits on the one hand, from a first output s101, a positive voltage Q1 of fixed amplitude when its input voltage V9 is positive and a voltage of amplitude zero in the reverse case, and on the other hand, from its second output s102, a tension Q1 which is complementary to Q1, that is to say which is of a fixed positive amplitude when the voltage of Q1 is zero and is of zero amplitude in the reverse case. These thus exists a train of pulses whose lengths are modulated in harmony with the sinusoidal input voltage. This amplifier 10 is fed with an auxiliary voltage V which is applied to a second input e102, so that in the absence of this voltage V the output voltages Q1 and Q1 are both zero. As shown in FIG. 6, which shows the various voltages Va1, V12, V8, V9, Q1 and Q1 as a function of time, at the moment when the sinusoidal voltage passes through zero, the signal emitted from output Q1 or Q1 is symmetrical, that is to say the length of time for which it is positive. This symmetry is increasingly lost as the amplitude of the sinusoidal signal Va1 becomes greater. The deviation from symmetry is termed the depth of modulation. The latter also depends on the amplitude of the master voltage V12, which is itself proportional to the voltage of the DC supply source for the arrangement. It can be seen from FIG. 6 that the depth of modulation is the less as the amplitude of the master sawtooth is higher, that is to say as the voltage of the supply source for the arrangement is higher; this enables to compensate for variations in the supply voltage to the arrangement.

The pre-amplifier 6 is supplemented by a threshold detector 11 which receives at its input e11 a control voltage Vi which is proportional to the current flowing in the power transistors of a power amplifier which will be described below. As soon as this current reaches a predetermined value, the threshold detector 11 emits a message from its output s11, in the form of a signal which is transmitted to input e103 of amplifier 10 and which blocks the latter. The output voltages Q1 and Q1 then both become zero.

To enable the power amplifier which will be described below to operate properly, it is necessary to arrange for a dead period each time the signal V9 supplied by the zero-crossing detector 9 changes direction. The structure which is illustrated in FIG. 7 and described below, and which forms a preferred modified embodiment of the combination of the adder 8 and the zero-crossing detector 9, enables this to be done. In this embodiment, a narrow pass-band operational amplifier 14 is used. The voltages Va1 and V12 are applied to the input e14 of this amplifier 14 via resistors R1 and R2 respectively. The output s14 of amplifier 14 is connected to a load resistor R3 via two Zener diodes Z1 and Z2 which are connected back to back. The resistors R1 and R2 form the algebraic sum of the voltages Va1 and V12. Amplifier 14 is used as a zero crossing detector. By virtue of the narrow pass-band of the amplifier, the output voltage 14 produced at its output s14 is of the trapezoidal shape shown in FIG. 8.

The presence of the Zener diodes Z1 and Z2 means that the output voltage across the terminals of load resistor R3 remains at zero as long as the absolute value of the amplitude of voltage V14 remains less than the Zener voltage VZ of the diodes. The trapezoidal signal V9, with so called "dead" periods t1, is shaped in the remainder of the amplifier to obtain steeply-rising leading edges at outputs VQ and VQ1.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of one of the power amplifiers, such as that which is reference 4, for example. Amplifier 5 is produced in the same way. Each of these amplifiers consists in essence of:

a transistor T1 whose emitter on the one hand is connected to the negative pole of a DC supply source 15, which may be a bank of accumulators, and whose collector on the other hand is connected to the cathode of a diode d1,

a diode d3 whose cathode is coupled to the anode of diode d1 and whose anode is connected to the emitter of transistor T1,

a transistor T2 which is connected in the same way as transistor T1, that is to say its emitter is connected to the negative terminal of the supply bank 15 and its collector is connected to the cathode of a diode d2,

a diode d4 whose cathode is connected to the anode of diode d2 and whose anode is connected to the emitter of transistor T2,

a current-transformer TI which has two identical primary windings 16 and 17 whose inputs are marked e16 and e17 respectively and whose outputs s16 and s17 respectively, and a secondary winding 18 whose input and output are marked e18 and s18,

an inductance L having two identical windings 19 and 20 which have inputs e19 and e20 and outputs s19 and s20,

a transformer TR which comprises on the one hand a primary winding 21 having an input e21 and an output s21 and a centre tapping m, and on the other hand a secondary winding 22 having an input e22 and an output s22.

Input e16 of transformer TI is connected to the common point P1 of the anode of diode d1 and the cathode of d3. The output s16 of this transformer TI is connected to input e19 of the inductance L. The output s19 of the latter is connected to input e21 of the primary winding 21 of transformer TR. In a similar fashion, the output s21 of transformer TR is connected to input e20 of inductance L and output s20 of inductance L is connected to input e17 of transformer T1. Finally, the output s17 of transformer T1 is connected to the common point P2 of the anode of diode D2 and the cathode of diode d4.

The centre point m of transformer TR is coupled to the positive terminal of the supply source 15. A high value capacitor C1 is connected between the centre point m and the common point P3 of the emitters of transistors T1 and T2 and ensures a reserve of energy. Finally, a capacitor C2 is connected across the outputs e22 and s22 of the secondary winding 22 of transformer TR. The output terminals are marked S1 and S2.

The bases 23 and 24 of transistors T1 and T2 are respectively controlled by the voltages VQ an VQ supplied by the preamplifiers.

An amplifier such as is described above and illustrated in FIG. 9 operates as follows:

The first case which will be considered is that in which the input signal to the pre-amplifier 6 is zero. The complementary signals Q and Q are symmetrical. The transistors T1 and T2 are rendered alternately conductive and blocked for equal lengths of time. Assuming that T1 is conductive, a current flows from the positive pole of source 15 through the section of winding lying between the centre point m and transformer TR and the input e21 of its primary winding 21, and also through winding 10 of inductance L, winding 16 of transfromer TI, diode d1, and transistor T1. The current flows through each winding in the direction from its output to its input. At the moment when T1 blocks, this current has reached a certain peak value I1 max., as FIG. 10 shows, which illustrates the function with respect to time of the voltages Q and Q and of the current flowing in the various components (transistor T1, diode d3, transformer TR and the supply source 15).

Since the current in an inductance cannot change instantaneously and in view of the direction of the windings of the inductance, a current I2 max. of the same value as I1 max. is set up in the output to input direction through diode d4. This current is supplied to the source 15. The energy previously stored in inductance L is thus recovered. It should be noted that, althouth transistor T2 is driven to conduct, since diode d4 is conductive, there is at its terminals a slightly negative voltage and this blocks diode d2. The current declines and reaches zero after approximately a quarter of a cycle, when all the energy has been drained from the inductance. At this moment diode d4 blocks and diode d2 becomes conductive. A current arises in the input to output direction in windings 17 and 20, via diode d2 and transistor T2. This current increases and reaches a maximum value I3 max. at the moment when T2 blocks. The current is supplied by the supply source 15. Inductance L has thus stored energy. At this moment diode d3 becomes conductive, until the next quarter of a cycle, when transistor T1 and diode d1 take their turn and the cycle continues. This manner of operation, which is illustrated by the waveforms shown in FIG. 10, causes currents IB whose mean is zero to appear in the source 15 and in the primary winding of transformer TR. The residual ripple is filtered by capacitor C2. The output voltage V4 at terminals S1 and S2 is thus zero.

The second case to be considered is that of operation with an input signal which is other than zero, (one which is positive for example). FIG. 11 illustrates operation in this case.

Transistor T1, for example, is conductive for a longer time than transistor T2. At the moment when transistor T1, blocks, the current reaches a higher I max value. As before, diode d4 becomes conductive and the current declines but in this case transistor T1 is made conductive again before the current has dropped to zero and it is thus only transistor T1 and its associated diodes which perform an active function. It would be transistor T2 and its associated diodes which would perform an active function if the control signal were negative. This operation, which is illustrated in FIG. 8, causes currents of other than zero mean value to appear in the primary of transformer TR and a current IB to appear in the supply source 15. The mean current IM in the primary of the transformer is positive in FIG. 11 but would be negative in the case of a negative input signal Va1.

The third case to be considered is that of operation with a sinusoidal input signal. As explained above, the signals VQ and VQ controlling the transistors T1 and T2 then have their lengths modulated in harmony with the sine-wave. The result is that the mean current in the primary winding of the transformer waries in the same rhythm, that is to say sinusoidally. Capacitor C2 filters in residual ripple and there is obtained at outputs S1 and S2 a sinusoidal voltage which is a replica of the input signal Va1. Since dead periods have been arranged in the signals controlling transistors T1 and T2, there is no danger of these conducting simultraneously.

A voltage which is a replica of the current flowing in the transistors is received at terminals e18 and s18 of transformer T1. This voltage is used as a control voltage for the threshold detector 13 of pre-amplifier 6. As soon as the current in one transistor reaches a predetermined value, the threshold detector 13 triggers and blocks transistors T1 and T2. The latter are thus fully protected against all overloads. In particular, the arrangement is able to operate perfectly well with a short circuit between terminals S1 and S2 and the normal voltage will reappear as soon as the short circuit is no longer present. The description would be identical in the case of amplifier 5, from whose terminals a voltage V5 is received.

In cases where it is desired to obtain a three-phase signal, the output transformer TR is replaced by a transformer of the "Scott-connected" or "Leblanc-connected" type which converts the two-phase signal into a three-phase signal.

In a modified embodiment, what is termed an auxiliary arrangement is provided. This is illustrated in FIG. 12. As stated above, the pre-amplifier is fed by an auxiliary voltage V. The absence of this voltage prevents the power amplifier from operating in any way. The object of the auxiliary arrangement marked A in FIG. 12 is to allow the auxiliary voltage to be applied under certain conditions. The auxiliary arrangement A consists of:

a first threshold system 50, to whose input e50 is applied the voltage E from the supply battery 15. The system opens a first contact 51 when this voltage E is higher than a predetermined value,

a voltage converter 52 which produces an auxilary voltage V from the supply voltage,

a second threshold system 53 which, being supplied by the auxiliary voltage V, opens a second contact 54 as soon as this voltage V is higher than a predetermined value V mini,

an RC circuit (R50, C50) which is supplied by a voltage V1,

a third threshold system 55 which, being supplied by the voltage Vc which exists across the terminals of capacitor C50, closes a third contact 56 as soon as the voltage V reaches a predetermined value. When closes, this third contact 56 applies the voltage V to amplifiers 6 and 7, which allows the associated power amplifiers 4 and 5 to operate.

Such an auxiliary arrangement operates in the manner described below.

As soon as the supply voltage E is applied, all the stages of the system have a supply except the pre-amplifier stages, and the power amplifier stages are thus blocked. If the supply voltage E is sufficiently high (in the present instance if it is higher than E mini) the first contact 51 opens and if the voltage V at the output of converter 52 is sufficiently high (higher than V mini), the second contact 54 opens. Capacitor C50 then charges via resistor R50. After a certain delay, the voltage at the terminals of capacitor C50 reaches the triggering value for threshold system 55, which closes contact 56. The preamplifiers 6 and 7 are fed with the auxiliary voltage V. The system is unblocked.

Such an arrangement has a number of advantages. When voltage is applied, the delay which the arrangement causes before the power amplifier stages come into operation enables all the components making up the control arrangement according to the invention to reach their steady state during this period. There is thus no danger of transitional conditions existing at the time when the power transistors unblock. The arrangement also performs a safety function by blocking the control arrangement when the supply voltage E is too low, in cases where the accumulator bank is discharged for example, and it protects the power transistors against any thermal runaway, of which there would be a danger if the auxiliary voltage were too low.

In the example descirbed, the power transistors are of the NPN type. They could be of the PNP type but in this case the polarities would have to be reversed.

An application of a control arrangement such as that which has just been described, both from the point of view of structure and operation, consists in using the arrangement as a system for driving a brushless and slip-ringless asychronous two-phase or three-phase motor to enable the said motor to operate at continuously variable speeds, the motor being supplied at a variable frequency and at a voltage which is continuously adjusted as a function of the said frequency. The control arrangement operates correctly whatever the power factor cos Q of the load. This is of advantage where the load is formed by one or more asynchronous motors which are used at varying speeds since the power factor of such motors varies as a function of speed. The waveform, amplitude and frequency of the output voltage depend only on the parameters which govern the voltage Va applied to the input of the power amplifiers. This latter is generated at low power. Finally, since the power transistors are either saturated or blocked, losses are low and despite the sinusoidal waveform of the output voltage, the efficiency is excellent.

As stated above the switching function in the amplifier stages is performed by power transistors. Such a circuit is particularly suitable for use with moderate supply voltages of the order of 100 volts. This is the case in particular when the supply source is formed by a bank of accumulators. But for example, in cases where an AC supply source is available, such as a mains distribution network by employing a rectifier for the purpose, and it become difficult to use this control arrangement with transistors for very high power levels. To overcome this disadvantage embodiment is now described in FIG. 13 where transistorised power stages are designed to operate with thyristors.

The control arrangement is in all respects similar to that described with regard to the power stage, the amplifiers of which, have undergone certain modifications required as a result of the replacement of the power transistors by thyristors. Therefore, all that will be described below is the layout of one power amplifier.

The supply soure, which may be either a DC source (banks of accumulators) or a rectified AC source (originating from the mains distribution network for example) is represented in the figure by its positive and negative terminals. In an embodiment which is given solely by way of example, the amplifier according to the invention consists in essence of:

two thyristors TH1 and TH2 which receive at their control electrodes the control signals VQ and VQ respectively which are supplied by their associated pre-amplifiers these thyristors having their cathodes connected in common on the one hand to a point Pa and on the other hand, via a so-called blocking thryristor TH3, a point Pb, an inductance L3 and a diode d5, to the point Pa and on the other hand, via a so-called blocking thyristor TH3, a point Pb, an inductance L3 and a diode d5, to the point Pa and on the other hand, via a so-called blocking thyristor TH3, a point Pb, an inductance L3 and a diode d5, to the positive terminal of the supply source. The anodes of the thyristors are in turn connected, via a diode d3 in the case of TH1 and a diode d4 in the case of TH2, to the negative terminal of the supply source.

an inductance L2 which is connected between point Pa and the negative pole of the supply source,

a capacitor C3 which is connected between point Pb and the negative pole of the supply source.

The inductances L2 and L3, the capacitor C3, the diode d5 and the thyristor TH3 form a blocking circuit.

The thyristors and their associated diodes and the blocking circuit co-operate with the other components of the amplifier, which are the same as in preceding embodiment, to supply the control voltages. The components concerned are:

a current transformer TI which has two identical primary windings 16 and 17 whose inputs are marked e16 and e17 respectively and whose outputs are marked s16 and s17 respectively, and which has a second winding 18 whose input and output are marked e18 and s18,

an inductance L1 which has two identical windings 19 and 20 which have inputs e19 and e20 and outputs s19 and s20,

a transformer TR which has on the one hand a primary winding 21 having an input e21 and an output s22 and a centre point m, and on the other hand a secondary winding 22 having an input e22 and an output s22.

In accordance with the invention, the input e16 of the transformer is connected to the common point P1 of the cathode of diode d3 and of the anode of thyristor TH1. The output s16 of transformer T1 is connected to the input e19 of inductance L1. The output s19 of the latter is connected to the input e21 of the primary winding 21 of transformer TR. In a similar manner output s21 of transformer TR is connected to input e20 of inductance L1 and the output s20 of the latter is connected to input e17 of transformer TI. Finally, the output s17 of transformer TI is connected to the common point P2 of the cathode of diode d4 and of the anode of thyristor TH2.

The centre point m of transformer TR is coupled to the positive terminal of the supply source. A high value capacitor C1 is connected between the source point m and the negative terminal of the supply source. Finally, a capacitor C2 is connected across input e22 and output s22 of the secondary winding 22 of transformer TR. The output terminals of the amplifier are marked S1 and S2.

The control electrodes of thyristors TH1, TH2 and TH3 receive control pulses which are generated from the output signals of the pre-amplifier associated with the amplifier concerned.

When voltage is applied, capacitor c3 charges to a voltage close to twice the supply voltage, which is achieved by means of the oscillating circuit L3, C3. From this moment on, the operation of the amplifier is the same as in the case of preceding embodiment: which one exception, namely that unlike the transistors, the thyristors have to be blocked. This blocking function is performed by triggering thyristor TH3 by means of a control pulse applied to its control electrode 100. At this moment capacitor C3 discharges through inductance L2 and the thyristor, which was in the conductive state, shuts off, since the polarities at its terminals are reversed.

A control arrangement which has been equipped in this way with thyristorised power amplifiers enables asynchronous motors to be driven at frequencies other than the frequency of the AC supply source (the mains for example) and in particular at high frequencies. This enables the size of the output transformers and the motors employed to be reduced.

In the case of supersynchronous operation, the system recovers electrical energy, provided a component capable of storing this energy has been provided for the purpose. When the motor is braked the energy can then be collected either in a battery or in a high-capacity capacitor.

As stated above, the invention thus also has as an object a systeme for driving an asychronous motor supplied from a DC voltage source at speeds which are continuously variable. More specifically, it relates to an electronic control arrangement which receives at its input converted control information and which emits from its output, as a function of the said information, a so-called output signal whose voltage and frequency are controlled simultaneously and are so controlled in a continuous fashion, which signal is thus capable of regulating the speed of the said motor as a function of the control information. The input signal takes the form of a first DC control voltage which is supplied either by a potentiometric circuit or by a mixing arrangement which is capable of combining items of control information and emitting a signal. The latter, when applied to the input of a system according to the invention for providing a drive at continuously variable speeds and which co-operates with an asynchronous motor, enables the speed of the motor to be related to the said items of information. One application of such a combination is described below by way of entirely non-limiting example.

It relates to the ventilation of an enclosure, such as a railway coach, used for transporting passengers. Ventilation is achieved by blowing into the coach a mixture of air consisting partly of air drawn from the exterior, by means of motorised blowers. Since the coach may move either in tunnels, where the temperature is substantially constant, or in the open where the temperature varies with the season, it is desirable for the environment experienced by the passengers to be, at all times of the year, matched on the one hand to the mean temperature in the coach and on the other hand to the temperature of the outside air. One solution to this problem consists in using bladed blowers which are driven round at varying speeds by means of asynchronous motors, of the two-phase type for example, which are equipped with a variable-speed drive-system or systems according to the invention. By turning at a speed between 0 and N revolutions per minute, these motors thus provide a variable supply of air. The air so pumped contains approximately 40% of fresh air taken from the exterior. The physiological sensation felt by the passengers depends on the mean temperature prevailing within the coach, the output of air from the blowers, and the difference between the temperature of the air blown in and that of the ambient air. The higher air speeds give the sensation of a cool breeze, which is desirable when temperatures are high but which is to be avoided when temperatures are low. The control data will thus be formulated from the following parameters:

(a) the temperature prevailing within the coach. It will in fact be decided that between two temperature limits θ1 and θ2, the speed of rotation should be between 0 and NO rpm respectively. Thus, each temperature θa between θ1 and θ2 will have a corresponding speed NA,

(b) the outside temperature, since as a function of the latter the speed of rotation will have to be either reduced or increased by a greater or smaller amount N rpm in relation to the said initially determined speed NA.

Conversely, it is possible for the outside temperature to be taken as the reference temperature and for the speed then to be regulated as a function of the inside temperature. These parameters are processed by a mixing arrangement which emits a first control voltage V1.

FIG. 14 shows the addition of such a mixing arrangement 1, which receives at its input information supplied by two resistive sensors A and B and which emits an output signal V1, and thus co-operates with the control arrangement or system for driving a motor at variable speeds, which comprises a block 2 for processing the control voltage V1, a function generator 3 and two amplifiers 4 and 5, the structures of which were described above.

FIG. 15 shows an embodiment of the mixing arrangement 1. The sensor positioned inside the vehicle and the sensor positioned outside both consist of a number of components which are grouped into two blocks A and B which are enclosed in broken lines in the figure. The description will first concentrate on the sensor A situated inside the vehicle. A resistive temperature-sensing element 50 is positioned in a first Wheatstone bridge formed by resistors R50, R52 and P50. The voltage received at the terminals of this bridge is applied via two input resistors R53 and R54 to an operational amplifier 51 which has a negative feed-back impedance R51.

The signal is received at the output of operational amplifier 51 in the form of a voltage Va. This corresponds to the signal VA applied to the mixing arrangement 1 in FIG. 14. Similarly, the sensor B positioned inside the vehicle includes a resistive temperature-sensing element 60 which is positioned in a second Wheatstone bridge formed by resistors R60, R62 and P60. The voltage obtained at the terminals of this bridge is applied via two input resistors R63 and R64 to an operational amplifier 61 which has a negative feedback impedance R61 and which emits a signal in the form of a voltage VB whose sign is opposite from that of VA. This signal corresponds to the signal VB applied to the mixing arrangement in FIG. 14. If VA is positive for example, VB is negative. The potentiometers P50 and P60 enable the zero point to be adjusted. The value of voltage VA and voltage VB varies as a function of temperature θ as shown in figures 16 and 17. IN both cases only one range of temperatures is considered, which range lies between the temperatures θA and θB as already stated. The difference between voltages VA and VB is applied via resistors R65 and R66 to a first input e671 of a first operational amplifier 67 which has a negative feedback resistor R67. The second input e672 of the operational amplifier 67 is connected to zero potential via resistor 68. The signal emitted from the output s67 of amplifier 67 is applied via a resistor R70 to a system for symmetrical peak clipping which consists of diodes d71 and d72 and resistors R73, R74, R75 and R76. The signal, having been clipped in this way, is applied to one of the terminals of a potentiometer P80 whose moving contact is connected via a resistor R83 to the first input e811 of an operational output amplifier 81 which has a negative feed-back resistor R81. The second input e812 of amplifier 81 is connected to zero potential via a resistor R82. Input e811 also receives the signal VA supplied by sensor A, via a potentiometer P82. The signal V1 supplied from output s81 of amplifier 81 is a DC voltage proportional to the inside temperature, which is corrected for the difference between inside temperature and outside temperature within a certain limiting percentage.

The arrangement according to the invention forms a generator for generating power in the form of two out of phase sinusoidal voltages. The frequency and amplitude of these two voltages are proportional to a low-power DC control voltage. The original way of combining the components of which it consists means that the efficiency of such an arrangement is excellent, and makes it able to operate with loads of any power factor. The addition of active safety measures which react to low supply voltages, and to overloads which may be as great as a complete short circuit at the output of the apparatus, guarantees safe operation under all conditions. The two sinusoidal control voltages are produced at low power with a small amount of equipment. The special arrangement of the function generator prevents the direction of operation from ever reversing at the wrong time. The arrangement which provides the DC control voltage in accordance with the so-called "ramp" law specified above, ensures that the rise in speed is gradual with no current drain on the supply batteries. The system is switched on and off automatically and all transitional phenonema are prevented.

For all these reasons, the arrangement according to the invention is particularly suitable for the gradual and continuous control of the speed of asynchronous motorised blowers unsing a source of DC current such as a bank of accumulators. This continuous variation in speed enables the system to be controlled on the basis of physical parameters such as the inside and outside temperature applicable to a coach travelling on a railway for example.